The Go-Ahead Group PLC

The Go-Ahead Group PLC Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Joanna Walters, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Address: Recruitment and Training Academy 1 Warner Road Camberwell London SE5 9LU Monitoring visit: The Go-Ahead Group PLC, 16–17 March 2021

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after by ESFA and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the Further education and skills inspection handbook, especially the sections entitled ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

The Go-Ahead Group PLC (Go-Ahead) is an international transport group and is the largest operator of bus services in London. Go-Ahead delivers training from a main training centre in Southwark and at 16 bus garages across Greater London.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 123 apprentices on a standards-based apprenticeship in level 2 passenger transport driver, bus, coach and tram. Go-Ahead subcontracts the delivery of English and mathematics to Learnmore Network Limited.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that the training supports apprentices’ progress well. The training is logically ordered. All apprentices are new to being a bus driver. They develop their driving knowledge and skills early on in their training and quickly make a good contribution to the company. Over time, they develop well the other key knowledge, skills and behaviours they need in their job role.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers place a high priority on the apprenticeship programme and see it as central to improving the quality of the service they provide. The training enables the company to develop good-quality, professional bus drivers. There are opportunities for apprentices to progress in their careers within the company and take on extra responsibilities, such as garage supervisors, when they complete their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices receive their entitlement to training during work hours. Line managers support apprentices to ensure they are able to Monitoring visit: The Go-Ahead Group PLC, 16–17 March 2021 participate in training. A few apprentices receive more time than their entitlement and spend the time learning new bus routes to widen their knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not adequately ensure that the English and mathematics curriculums help apprentices achieve examinations in these subjects in a timely way. Leaders and managers do not provide assessors with enough opportunities to develop their teaching skills so they can support apprentices to develop English and mathematic skills and knowledge in a timely manner. As a result, too many apprentices have not completed within the planned time.

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Reasonable progress

Through their training, apprentices quickly develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to achieve. From early on in their training they make a good contribution to the business. For example, they display high levels of customer care and integrity at work and deal courteously with customers. They know how to deal with situations, such as when passengers are vulnerable or in potentially dangerous situations.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from frequent and thorough reviews of their progress. Assessors are well qualified and have significant industry experience that they use to guide apprentices through their training. Assessors identify well those areas where apprentices need to improve. In a few instances, assessors do not provide feedback that helps apprentices improve their work.

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Reasonable progress

Line managers and mentors at garages provide good support to apprentices at work. They understand well the progress that their apprentices make because they are closely involved in apprentices’ reviews. This helps managers plan work for apprentices that supports their progress. For example, they arrange additional driving with a mentor and extra coaching through reviewing accident footage. As a result, apprentices improve their hazard awareness and driving skills.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices enjoy and value the training they receive. They take pride in becoming bus drivers. They are enthusiastic about their jobs, their next steps and future job prospects.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices do not retain the key English and mathematics skills and knowledge they need to progress. This is because staff focus too narrowly on preparing apprentices for their exams, rather than ensuring they remember and can use what they have learned. As a result, too many apprentices do not gain the English and mathematics skills they need to complete their apprenticeship on time. Monitoring visit: The Go-Ahead Group PLC, 16–17 March 2021

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers have developed a highly effective safeguarding culture throughout the organisation. Apprentices receive very good support on personal matters from their assessors and line managers. They know who to turn to should they have any concerns about their own safety and well-being. Apprentices undertake highly detailed training that focuses on safety of themselves, passengers, vehicles and other road users. They understand very well why safeguarding is an important part of their role as a bus driver. As a result, apprentices quickly develop the skills and behaviours needed to be safe drivers.

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Significant progress

Throughout the apprenticeship programme, apprentices develop extensive knowledge about fundamental British values. They know how to apply these at work in everyday situations. For example, how to respect passengers who have different beliefs than themselves.

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Significant progress

In addition to the apprenticeship programme, apprentices complete extra training in communication, security and counter terrorism. Topics include threats from a firearm and what to do in a terrorist situation. As a result, apprentices develop detailed knowledge about how to keep themselves and passengers safe in dangerous situations.

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Significant progress

Apprentices learn quickly how to keep themselves safe at work. For example, they use announcement systems on the bus to remind passengers of the requirement to wear face coverings on the bus, rather than challenge individuals. Monitoring visit: The Go-Ahead Group PLC, 16–17 March 2021 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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